Mechanical Shock Terminology
Concise reference to mechanical shock terminology, response quantities and common qualification language.
Key definitions
- Shock: short-duration mechanical excitation capable of exciting structural dynamics
- Transient response: time-varying response before a steady state is established
- Pulse duration: defined interval over which the idealised excitation acts
- Rise time: time taken for the pulse to increase from its initial level to the relevant peak definition
- Residual response: free vibration remaining after the excitation ends
Core relationship
[M]u¨+[C]u˙+[K]u=F(t)
Use with care
Definitions and notation vary between organisations and standards. Confirm the controlled specification, response quantity, sign convention, damping and units before applying a formula or comparing datasets.